Another 10 miler

This one didn't hurt as much as my 10 miler a few weeks ago, but it had it's moments.  I had been up for a few hours, but wanted to wait until dawn for safety's sake.  I checked the weather report and it said that it wouldn't start raining until around 1pm.  Wrong.  It started raining as soon as I finished my short warmup and stretching routine.  I went back inside my apartment to put my glasses down and the couch looked so appealing.  "Don't do it," said the little voice inside. "You'll be sorry later."

So I took off into the rain for my 4 laps around Lake Ivanhoe.  My first lap (2.5 miles) was within seconds of 9 minute pace.  The second lap felt even better.  I stopped at that point, which was 5 miles to take off my outer T-shirt and drink a little water.  I had placed a small water glass on my porch, so I could drink fast and be on my way.  My pit stop was less than a minute.  The third lap was done and I had run through enough puddles by now that my toes had water squishing between them.  My legs were starting to feel heavy, too.  Around the 8 mile mark, I had to stop for a few cars and when it was my turn to cross the street, a car going my way let me have the way.  I tried to bolt across the street, but my legs were rooted in the sidewalk.  From that point, I struggled with my form.  My overall pace didn't change.  I completed my 10 miler in 1:29:58, so 2 seconds faster than exact 9 minute pace.

The Benefits.

I went to Publix for some Super Bowl snacks and some regular grocery items a couple hours after my run.  My blood pressure was 113 over 70 with a 68 pulse.  That is close to my BP from when I was in high school.  It has been slightly higher lately (120/80) and about the same pulse after walking the store and I was very encouraged to see my BP where I would like it.